Chapter Text
Barry wince at the sudden bright light shining in his eyes, only adjusting when it dims. He turns his head towards the source to see Bruce sitting there; watching with concern and something else unreadable at the moment. The rest of the Batcave is empty save for the sounds of running water and the hum of the computer.
“How long was I out for?”
“Nine months.”
Barry throws an arm over his eyes; processing the fact that he had wasted nine months. His plan to regain his speed after finding himself in this world – which, by the way, isn’t even his fault this time – have been poorly put together idea that barely worked. He last remembered a hoard of foot soldiers that were sent by Rita Repulsa, something that Bruce had explained him while catching him up on what he missed.
“How’s Wally?” Barry finally asks; unsure if he even have the right to ask.
This reality and the original Flashpoint appear similar in that his mom alive and Iris is married to someone else. However, this Earth’s Barry briefly dated Iris before they parted ways. There’s also the fact that the only hero that had existed was Batman but that was before Bruce’s back broke and he became unable to continue; mainly working with his cousin and a few others to keep Gotham safe. He can’t tell what’s worst: a world without heroes or a world where his friends are willing to murder one another.
“Alright, for the most part.” Bruce had come rolling back in with a plate of easy foods for Barry to eat; Alfred is already making his way back upstairs. “While you were out, we had a run in with the Green Ranger.”
“Green Ranger?” Barry questions. “I heard Wally mentioned something about Rangers but I never got the chance to ask.”
Mostly because the kid refused to answer any of his questions. Barry should have pushed…however, he didn’t want to accidently scare Wally away with being overbearing. Wally already views him as a means to an end of escaping the city for whatever reason, he doesn’t want to be another reason for Wally to mistrust the world.
“Wally can explain.” Bruce have been checking over Barry’s vitals; keeping himself busy while they were talking. “What’s the next step in this plan of yours?”
What is the next step? Barry knew he had to get his speed back but now that he’s not on a time clock, he’s starting to realize that this isn’t like last time. Well, last time Barry wasn’t the Flash for that long. Anyways, he needs to figure out what had changed and then change it back. Maybe it has to do with the Rangers? They didn’t exist – or did they exist?
“Where is Wally?”
“Upstairs,” Bruce said. “You want me to go get him?”
Barry hesitant.
Wally had put it himself; Barry is nothing but his aunt’s ex-boyfriend.
“Don’t bother, Alfred already told me that you’re awake.” Wally stands in the doorway with his arms cross and watching Barry closely. “And I want answers, just like you want answers.”
…
Bruce had left at some point during Barry’s explanation about everything that had happened. Flashpoint, the other Earths, heroes, the reason why he needed his speed back, and anything else that he can remember. Having his speed back caused his thoughts to become scattered. He’s doing his best to keep track of what he said and what he hasn’t; not noticing that he’s talking far fast than he should.
“And that’s about that.” Barry blinks slowly. “Sorry, I can repeat anything that I sped through.”
“Nah, it was easy to follow,” Wally said.
“Can I ask my questions now?”
Wally suddenly looks uncomfortable; turning away from him but he doesn’t leave.
“The Green Ranger? Bruce mentioned that they were giving you guys trouble while I was out…” Barry isn’t sure how to even go about asking. He wants to know what the Rangers are however Wally already looks close to running off. “Just answers what you are comfortable giving; you can tell me more later.”
Wally takes a second before explaining about the Rangers – a group that came together to fight against Rita Repulsa, who have been trying to take over the world since forever. Apparently, there has been other Rangers before but they aren’t around anymore, though Wally never gives a reason why. He hands over a gold coin with a familiar lightening bolt engraved in the center; it has a slight pink shine whenever the light hits it. When Wally has the coin back in his hands, he stares down at it sadly.
“The Green Ranger was a friend of mine,” Wally said; pocketing the coin. “I’m pretty sure he’s being controlled by Rita but I can’t get close to find out.”
“What about the rest of the Rangers?”
“Garth went back to Atlantis, no idea where Donna ended up, and Roy refuse to talk to me after what happened.” Barry force himself to not reach out, no matter how broken Wally looks right now. He doesn’t want to scare the kid away. “If I was just faster, I could’ve saved Dick…or maybe I should’ve been the one captured instead then maybe things could have been better.”
“For who?” Barry questions.
“I don’t know, everyone!?” Wally snaps; glaring harshly at him. “I’ve done nothing but screw things up! Dick would still be here if I didn’t push him away, I knew his history but yet I pushed until he ran off! Everyone has the right to hate me for that, for everything!”
And that’s what Barry wanted to avoid.
He’s forced to watch Wally storms away while he’s unable to follow; not that he has any right to follow in this reality.
…
Wally disappeared for about two weeks after their last conversation. Barry – instead of worrying himself to death – focused on regaining his strength and control over his speed. Luckily, the bruises heal quickly and any broken bones mend by the end of the hour as long as he doesn’t move to much. It’s awful taking things so slow, specially after years of having his powers, but he already gotten scolded by Bruce and Alfred one to many times.
He winces at the sudden pull of healing skin when he moves his leg onto a chair. Maybe forcing himself beyond his limit was the wrong move but Barry is tired of waiting and wanted to get back to where he was. Bruce is going to have a talking to him about it later, luckily he’s out at the moment for some meeting with the board.
“I need your help,” Wally mumbles; startling Barry out of his thoughts.
The kid stands awkwardly in the kitchen doorway; barely knowing how to stand and keeps shifting uncomfortable. It’s a strange site. Even when Barry and Wally were first getting to know one another, his nephew knew where he stands and never once let anyone know what’s going on. A trait that eases up over the years, allowing others to come into Wally’s walls. However, this Wally is both an open and shut book; sometimes it’s easy to know what he’s thinking but other times Barry is left guessing.
“With?”
“Saving Dick from Rita.”
Out of the everything, that was the last thing Barry was going to guess but it makes the most sense. Their last conversation replays in his head; the anger, the defeat, everything Wally didn’t want to say.
“Okay,” Barry said. “Where should we start?”
“By finding the others.”